International Sport Launch - B6-4 Field, Ft. Thomas, KY 5/27/13

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Maria and I were on vacation last week to help with the reconstruction of our deck, but somehow, some way, I was determined to get a launch in so as to not completely waste the time off. :rolleyes: All of the usual suspects joined forces to thwart my plans for the most part, including a woman sunbathing, but I finally found the field empty late yesterday afternoon. Armed with two packs of B6-4's and a couple that I found rolling around in my range box, I had an almost perfect day flying.
While flight time was at a premium, I did manage a bunch of construction time last week. One of the beneficiaries of this was my SPEV clone that had launched a fin at VOA several years back. I replaced the missing fin and made the SPEV the leadoff rocket for the day. It had made its first ever flight here back in 2004 and was still loaded with the same checkered tablecloth parachute. :cool:

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/SPEVignition_zps1c5645c4.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/SPEVignition_zps1c5645c4.jpg.html)

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/SPEVliftoff_zps8c45e02f.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/SPEVliftoff_zps8c45e02f.jpg.html)

No glamour shot because it's looking pretty rough these days, and I should have paid closer attention to aligning the tubes after I installed the chute, but the flight was just as I remember the 2004 version. Medium height, nice and straight.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/SPEVrecovery_zpsce3cc111.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/SPEVrecovery_zpsce3cc111.jpg.html)

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/SPEVsecondbaserecovery_zpsd30af5c6.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/SPEVsecondbaserecovery_zpsd30af5c6.jpg.html)

It still looks cool coming down under that checkered chute. Recovery was between the mound and second base, an easy play for the shortstop. :cool:

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

The Holverson Wicked Winnie was another bird I finished last week before the destruction of my paint booth. I printed off a waterslide decal, but decided to give the original sticker a try first. Should have gone with the waterslide.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/HolversonWickedWinnieonpad_zpsbd054ebc.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/HolversonWickedWinnieonpad_zpsbd054ebc.jpg.html)

I should have turned the rocket around for the glamour pic. I hate when the sun is behind the rocket. :mad:

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/HolversonWickedWinnieignition_zpsc7c4f973.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/HolversonWickedWinnieignition_zpsc7c4f973.jpg.html)

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/HolversonWickedWinnieliftoff_zps126620ad.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/HolversonWickedWinnieliftoff_zps126620ad.jpg.html)

Like everything else on the day, the flight was on a B6-4. Very little breeze was evident behind the big ol' hill, but there was obviously something cranking at treetop level because the rocket took off toward US 27 at ejection.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/HolversonWickedWinnierecovery_zpsfb29d9ca.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/HolversonWickedWinnierecovery_zpsfb29d9ca.jpg.html)

Things looked pretty ominous, but there was no final gust to fling it in the trees and it landed right between the two terrors.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/HolversonWickedWinniesplitsthedifference_zpse5be5ee6.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/HolversonWickedWinniesplitsthedifference_zpse5be5ee6.jpg.html)

Coolest part of the flight was the standing O it got at touchdown from a couple of neighborhood kids who'd stopped to watch. :D

[Ltvscout]

Maria and I were on vacation last week to help with the reconstruction of our deck, but somehow, some way, I was determined to get a launch in so as to not completely waste the time off. :rolleyes: All of the usual suspects joined forces to thwart my plans for the most part, including a woman sunbathing, but I finally found the field empty late yesterday afternoon.
Now post the pics of the woman sunbathing that you took. :chuckle:

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Now post the pics of the woman sunbathing that you took. :chuckle:

She was too white. The picture looks like a drive-in screen from the glare. ;)

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

The original Goony Vector G has led a rough life. Every fin but one has been broken off on a flight at one time or another, but that fin has hung tough through the mud and the blood and the beer.
Until today.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/FishheadRocketryVectorGonpad_zps05df215a.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/FishheadRocketryVectorGonpad_zps05df215a.jpg.html)

Flight was great, whipping to the left off the pad toward the big hill, but drifting back out with the breeze.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/FishheadRocketryVectorGliftoff_zps4e9eab9c.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/FishheadRocketryVectorGliftoff_zps4e9eab9c.jpg.html)

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/FishheadRocketryVectorGrecovery_zps08c85af4.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/FishheadRocketryVectorGrecovery_zps08c85af4.jpg.html)

Recovery? Eh, not so much. The same chute that I'd used on the Wicked Winnie flight threw a tantrum and decided not to open. The G bounced as it hit the ground, never a good sign.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/FishheadRocketryVectorGbrokenfin_zps7ad58016.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/FishheadRocketryVectorGbrokenfin_zps7ad58016.jpg.html)

Now all the fins will look uniformly crappy. Time for a new G.




Second flight for the Estes Patriot, but first since the deluxe lettering scheme was applied.


http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/EstesPatriotmissileonpad_zps86e28155.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/EstesPatriotmissileonpad_zps86e28155.jpg.html)


http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/EstesPatriotmissileignition_zps39c45dbe.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/EstesPatriotmissileignition_zps39c45dbe.jpg.html)


Flight was very ordinary, straight up, straight down. Same chute as the Vector G, but it worked like a charm. Something there is that doesn't love a Goon.

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

It wouldn't be an International Sport Launch without a Red Max flight. This was one of the new ones.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/EstesDerRedMaxonpad_zpsd5e802ed.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/EstesDerRedMaxonpad_zpsd5e802ed.jpg.html)

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/EstesDerRedMaxliftoff-1_zpsb5ecefbe.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/EstesDerRedMaxliftoff-1_zpsb5ecefbe.jpg.html)

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/EstesDerRedMaxrecovery_zpsb38f9a51.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/EstesDerRedMaxrecovery_zpsb38f9a51.jpg.html)

Need I say more?


http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/SemrocVegaonpad_zps09b81452.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/SemrocVegaonpad_zps09b81452.jpg.html)

I picked the Semroc Vega to represent the 4fnc crowd today.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/SemrocVegaignition_zps84e62726.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/SemrocVegaignition_zps84e62726.jpg.html)

The normal flight, but I did risk my vision getting an ejection shot. Next time I might try the telephoto lens.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/SemrocVegaejection_zps70f5229e.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/SemrocVegaejection_zps70f5229e.jpg.html)

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

The Custom Serval representing the tube finned set.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/CustomServalonpad_zpsf4404bfd.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/CustomServalonpad_zpsf4404bfd.jpg.html)

I like this bird. Nice and stable. Heavy enough to recover quickly, but not too quickly. Just short of two years since the last time I flew it. :cool:

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/CustomServalliftoff_zps178bdd1b.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/CustomServalliftoff_zps178bdd1b.jpg.html)

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/CustomServalrecovery_zps611bae0d.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/CustomServalrecovery_zps611bae0d.jpg.html)

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/CustomServalunderchute_zps8760ea3e.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/CustomServalunderchute_zps8760ea3e.jpg.html)

It landed in the infield. I didn't notice the snail trail it made when it got dragged across the infield until I'd already picked it up. Some slight damage to the paint.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/HolversonTangentonpad_zps5fd9dc9b.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/HolversonTangentonpad_zps5fd9dc9b.jpg.html)

One B6-4 left, so I sent the Tangent up. I'm still kicking myself.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/HolversonTangentignition_zps78ac0a65.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/HolversonTangentignition_zps78ac0a65.jpg.html)

It was in trouble right from the start. No windcocking at all, and quite a bit higher than I expected. It also picked up a breeze at ejection and began racing across the field toward US 27. I thought things were going to be okay at first as it cleared the pike and looked like it was heading toward the parking lot of the insurance building, but it stayed up longer than I expected and landed on the roof. We've had some pretty stout winds since then, but as far as I can tell, it's still up there. 18 year old me says to take the ladder up and make a quick rescue, but 50 year old me isn't fond of jail or of losing my field. :( I'm officially bummed, even after going 7 for 8.

[Madison Alum]

Looks like a great day of fun flying! I haven't been able to put anything in the air since you came and entertained us at Muncie.

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Looks like a great day of fun flying! I haven't been able to put anything in the air since you came and entertained us at Muncie.
I'm surprised that you'd even consider flying after that disaster. :D

[Tau Zero]

The original Goony Vector G has led a rough life. Every fin but one has been broken off on a flight at one time or another, but that fin has hung tough through the mud and the blood and the beer.
Until today.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/FishheadRocketryVectorGbrokenfin_zps7ad58016.jpg (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/rmortis/media/FishheadRocketryVectorGbrokenfin_zps7ad58016.jpg.html)

Now all the fins will look uniformly crappy. Time for a new G.Maybe you should upscale the fins, say, to 137%, and make them out of 3/32" fin material? :confused: ;) :D

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Maybe you should upscale the fins, say, to 137%, and make them out of 3/32" fin material? :confused: ;) :D
They are. They're 3/32" basswood. The problem lies with the way they stick out and the lousy paper I used to make the lower "tube". ;) Old pizza ads have no place in rocketry.